We're just halfway through 2013, and we've already had some major security issues that affected both our privacy and our productivity. Things are getting serious. We've gone well past the hacking-for-fun stage, and now it's all about information gathering.

Here are the 10 most-read security articles of 2013, from bad to worse. Hold onto your tin hats, as we're sure to experience more cyberthreats for the rest of the year.

An Apple iOS software fix was designed to repair a nasty bug that let unauthorized users bypass the lock screen for iPhones and iPads — and access user data. Good idea, except it contained yet another major flaw.

Published: July 2, 2013 -- 20:26 GMT (13:26 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

9. Mega users: If you're hacked once, you're hacked for life

Pessimists, or perhaps realists, in the security industry say that being hacked is a matter of when, not if. But if you're a user of Kim Dotcom's Mega site, do whatever you can to make sure you're never hacked, because you can't change your password and you can't delete your account.

Published: July 2, 2013 -- 20:26 GMT (13:26 PDT)

Photo by: Mega

Caption by: Andy Smith

8. Hacker, activist Aaron Swartz commits suicide

Aaron Swartz, Reddit co-founder, was dedicated to sharing data and information online. He worked tirelessly to develop and popularize standards for free and open information sharing.

Published: July 2, 2013 -- 20:26 GMT (13:26 PDT)

Photo by: Wikimedia Commons

Caption by: Andy Smith

7. The real story in the NSA scandal is the collapse of journalism

If the NSA scandal, which exposed the US government for spying on its citizens, wasn't enough, media sources trying to pin down the big scoop couldn't get the story straight. Details, details.

Published: July 2, 2013 -- 20:26 GMT (13:26 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

6. CISPA passes U.S. House: Death of the Fourth Amendment?

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act would allow private-sector firms to search personal and sensitive user data of ordinary U.S. residents to identify "threat information", which can then be shared with other opt-in firms and the U.S. government — without the need for a court-ordered warrant.

Described as "misguided" and "fatally flawed" by the two largest US privacy groups, CISPA is considered a threat to the online privacy of ordinary US residents.